shylock

shylock · noun, verb¹

From the character Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (1600).

Shylock · proper noun, noun²

1. Old Saxon · derived fromskīr-lokk“white-haired”
2. Hebrew · derived fromשלח
3. English todayShylock

Possibly derived from Hebrew שלח (Šélaḥ, the grandson of Shem), or Old Saxon skīr-lokk (“white-haired”), referring to goldsmiths and scriveners. It may also be derived from Michael Lok and an archaic meaning of shy (“untrustworthy”).

First known use, by meaning

• 1786 A loan shark; a usurer.
• 1950s A person of Jewish descent.